U.S. Airlines, Airports Tighten Security In DC-area After Unrest
- by Claude Bryan
- in Markets
- — Jan 9, 2021
The comment followed reports of unruly passengers on flights into the DC area on Tuesday ahead of the disruption at the Capitol, raising concern about their departure from the region.
American and United's response comes a day after the union repping nearly 50,000 flight attendants called on airlines and law enforcement to act after "the mob mentality behavior" on several flights. which it says "threatened the safety and security" of all passengers and crew members.
American Airlines on Thursday announced that it will no longer serve alcohol on flights to and from the nation's capital after flight attendants 'were forced to confront passengers exhibiting politically motivated aggression towards other passengers and crew'.
"The mob mentality behavior that took place on several flights to the D.C. area yesterday was unacceptable and threatened the safety and security of every single person onboard", said AFA-CWA President Sara Nelson. It will not happen again.
In her statement, Nelson stressed that acts against American democracy such as these "must disqualify these individuals from the freedom of flight". The union feels it's unsafe for those who participated in the insurrection at the Capitol to be allowed back onto airplanes. Due to the pandemic, American Airlines had stopped serving alcohol in the main cabin on March 24, 2020, but it was still available in first class.
LA County Hospitals Preparing For "Worst Conditions" Of Entire Pandemic
People in self-quarantine are required to stay home or find other lodging and avoid contact with others during the ten-day period. On the same day the directive was issued, reports came from the county with 7,697 hospitalization cases due to the coronavirus.
United and American also increased staffing at the area's airports and earlier this week moved their crews away from downtown DC hotels.
There were also 'no in-flight issues reported at this time, ' the airline said.
Nelson did not address how members of the violent protests should be identified but said airlines should work with agencies including the Department of Homeland Security to keep 'all problems on the ground'.
A Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority spokesman said passengers can expect to see an increased law enforcement presence as they travel through airports.
Republican Senator Lindsey Graham was harassed on Friday by supporters of Trump and called a "traitor" at Washington's Reagan National Airport before departing on a flight, according to videos posted on social media.
